THE BUYER INTELLIGENCE ADVANTAGE: LEVERAGING LIVE MARKET DEMAND TO STRENGTHEN YOUR EXIT PLANNING PRACTICE
The most effective exit planning advisors don't simply understand the planning process, they understand the market.
As buyer demand continues to evolve in the lower middle market, Certified Exit Planning Advisors have a unique opportunity to incorporate real-time buyer intelligence into their advisory process. By understanding what qualified buyers are actively seeking today, CEPAs can help business owners make more informed decisions, identify opportunities to enhance value, and engage in more meaningful planning conversations.
In this session, Jaclyn Ring of REAG demonstrates how its active buy-side mandates serve as a strategic resource for CEPAs. You'll learn how live buyer demand can strengthen client relationships, enhance your credibility as a trusted advisor, and create natural opportunities to engage both existing clients and prospective business owners — insight that goes beyond historical data or generalized market trends.
Learning Objectives:
- Turn market signals into client conversations – Learn how a live buyer mandate reframes exit planning from a hypothetical, long-horizon exercise into an immediate, actionable discussion.
- Use buyer intelligence as an advisory tool – Understand how real-time insight into buyer valuation criteria, deal structures, and sector-specific preferences helps clients see their business the way an acquirer would — and surfaces the gaps that create urgency for planning.
- Build seller readiness before it's needed – Discover how low-stakes exposure to buyer conversations compresses the learning curve for owners, so they're prepared rather than reactive when a real transaction becomes possible.
- Create value beyond the formal planning engagement – Learn how facilitating introductions between owners and qualified buyers builds a CEPA's reputation as a market connector — generating referral relationships and business development opportunities even when a client never signs on for full exit planning services
Event Details
Who Should Attend?
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Attorneys
You have close relationships with clients, and can benefit from being the first advisor to introduce the idea of exit planning.
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CPAs/Accountants
Owners participating in the State of Owner Readiness research continue to indicate that you are the No. 1 "Most Trusted Advisor." You are a natural fit to lead the exit planning team and deepen your relationship (and retention) of next generation owners.
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Wealth Managers
You’re a skilled relationship person. Being entangled into your clients’ professional lives matters as you build a strategy to manage their wealth upon them harvesting it from their business. Exit planning allows you to build a deeper relationship with your client, expands your COI network, while giving you an early seat at table well before the liquidity event.
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Financial Advisors
One of the critical ‘legs of the stool’ is personal financing planning. An owner must have a strong financial plan & contingency plan post-transition to enable them to thrive in the next act of the lives personally and financially. Exit planning brings this future mindset into the present. Exit is now.
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Valuation Analysts
Valuation is both a billable engagement AND an opportunity to provide owners some perspective on how to accelerate value drivers (and deal with value killers). Use exit planning to make that valuation into a longer term value acceleration engagement.
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Investment Bankers
Only 2 of every 10 businesses that come to market actually sell. Learn how exit planning can bring attractive AND ready business to your purview.
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Estate Planners
Exit planning is a natural fit for estate planners who want to operate more holistically with their owner clients.
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Strategic Consultants
One of the most critical roles in exit planning is building transferable value. Strategic consultants have the ability to expand options and drive rapid business value that affect performance today.
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Insurance Professionals
Exit planning addresses the 5 D's. So do you. Approach the risk conversation differently with exit planning.
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Mergers & Acquisition Advisors
Proper exit planning causes less deals to fall through at the last minute. Connect with CEPAs to build your healthy deal flow network.
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Commercial Lenders
One of the best relationships a business owner makes is with their banker. How can you help your corporate clients think about the future and ensure financial continuity? Answer: exit planning.
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Family Business Advisors
More than 50% of lower middle market business owners would prefer to transition to the next generation. Help them succeed with exit planning strategies.
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Other Professional Advisors
Regardless of your unique specialty, there is seat at the exit planning table for you. Learn more at www.EarnCEPA.com.
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Private Business Owners
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Members of Family Business Boards
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Professional Advisors
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Business Consultants
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Other Business Professionals
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Business Owners
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Business Owners & Their Trusted Advisors
EXIT PLANNING IS GOOD BUSINESS STRATEGY
The Exit Planning Institute, provides Financial Advisors, Accountants, Consultants, and other advisors of business owners with the critical education to differentiate themselves and add value to their existing client relationships through a credential, conference, courses, and content. Download the CEPA brochure for more information.
ABOUT THE PRESENTER
Jaclyn Ring has over 10 years of mergers and acquisitions experience and is responsible for the execution of buy-side and sell-side transactions at REAG. She is an active member of the M&A Source, earning the prestigious CM&AP designation and the M&AMI. In 2023, Ring was elected to the M&A Source Board of Governors and serves as the sponsorship chair. She is a member of the Pittsburgh Chapter of the Association for Corporate Growth, active participant in the ACG Women’s Network and the recipient of the 2024 ACG Pittsburgh Women in Transaction Award.